Saw-mill set-works



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

*w..P. PARISH.

SAW MILL SET WORKS.

No. 352,838. Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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SAW MILL SET WORKS. No. 352,838. Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

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W. F. PARISH.

SAW MILL SET WORKS.

No. 352,838. Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

NITED' ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. PARISH, on MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SAW-'=MILL SET-WORKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,838, dated November16, 1886.

Application filed May 24, 1886. Serial No. 203,066. (No model.)

State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Saw-MillSet-Works, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for operating the kneesof saw-mill head-blocks for the purpose of feeding forward the logs tothe saw.

Theinvention consists, generally, in a setworks for saw-mills,having aratchet mechan ism mounted on a counter-Shaft and gearing with theset-shaft, reacting-springson the setshaft, and means for connecting ordisconnecting the counter-shaft and set-shaft, so that as the knees aremoved forward by operating the ratchet mechanism the springs are woundup,

' and when the shafts are disconnected the reaction of the springsretracts the knees.

' The invention further consists in theunclutching and brake mechanismon the setshaft.

The invention further consists in the means for moving the kneesindependently on the head-blocks.

The invention further consists in the construction and combinationhereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the and 6 aredetails of the sliding knees.

In the drawings, 2 represents a portion of a saw-mill carriage, whichmay be of any suitable construction. Upon this carriage are thehead-blocks'3, which may be arranged in the usual manner. Suitableknees, 5, are mounted and move back and forth on the head-blocks.

A set-shaft, 7, is mounted in suitable hearings on the carriage andextends lengthwise thereof. The set-shaft is provided with suitablegears, 49, that mesh with a rack on a slide to which the knee isconnected, preferably by means hereinafter described. A coiled spring,9, is mounted on the set-shaft, and has one end-Secured to the shaft andthe other end secured to the head-block or other part of the carriage. Iprefer to employ two or more of these springs, one or more on each sideof the mechanism for operating the shaft. A countershaft, 11, is mountedin suitable bearings on the saw-mill carriage, and is provided with abevel or miter gear, 13, that meshes with a similar gear, 15, on theset-shaft 7. The shaft 11 is also provided with a ratchetwheel, 17. Thiswheel may be formed integrally with the bevel-gear 13, or it may beindependently secured to the counter-shaft. The ratchet-wheel 17 isoperated by suitable pawls or dogs, 18, that engage therewith, and aremoved bya lever, 19, upon a'shaft, 21, having arms 23, to which the dogsare connected by arms 25 27. With this ratchet mechanism a movement ofthe lever 19 in either direction advances one pawl and recedes theother, and thereby the ratchetwheel and counter-shaft are always movedin the same direction.-

I do not confinemyself to the use of the described ratchet mechanism, asany suitable form of ratchet mechanism by which the countershaft may becontinuously rotated may be employed with good results, nor do I claimin this application the construction of the ratchet device herein shownand described, as the same forms the subject of a separate applicationfor Letters Patent.

The gear 15 is splined to the set-shaft and rotates therewith, but isfree to move longitudinally thereon. I prefer to secure the end of oneof the spiral springs 9 to this gear-wheel, so that by the expansiveforce of the spring the gear 15 is normally held in engagement with thegear 13 on the counter-shaft.

I provide suitable mechanism by which the gear 15 may be thrown out ofengagement with the gear 13. The mechanism that I prefer to employ forthis purpose is shown in detail in in the plane of the drum 16, issecured a'block or plate, 33, which may be of substantially quadrantshape, as shown in Fig. 3 Astrap, 35, passes around the drum 16, and hasits ends secured to the plate 33. The drum 16 has a suitable flange orother means to keep' the strap from slipping off. A lever, 37, ispivoted upon astud, 39, and engages the shaft 31. By moving the upperend of this lever in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, theshaft 31 is moved longitudinally in its bearings, and thereby the gear15 is moved out of mesh with the gear 13 on the countershaft. Iprefer toconnect the lever 37 with the shaft 31 by thefollowing described means:The shaft 31 has an enlarged portion or boss, 41, forged thereon. Thelower end of the lever 37 extends through an opening in this boss. Thelever has a limited movement lengthwise on its pivot against the tensionof a spring, 43. (See Fig. 3.) By moving the upperend of the leverin thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 the shaft 31 is rocked in itsbearing, and thereby the strap is tightened around the sleeve 16,forming a friction-brake thereon.

The pivot opening in the lever 37 may be slightly larger than the pivot,or the pivot may be curved, or other devices may be used to permit thelever to move on its pivot and impart the required movement to the shaft31. The operation of the device is as follows: The logs are placed onthe carriage and are moved thereon by the knees to set the kneesforward. The attendant grasps the lever 19 and moves it in eitherdirection. The ratchet-wheel and counter-shaft are thereby turned, andthrough the gears 13 the setshaft is rotated, moving the knees along onthe head-blocks, as desired. At the same time the springs on theset-shaft are wound up. When it is desired to recede-the knees, thelever 37 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, therebydisengaging the gear 15 from the gear 13. As soon as the gears aredisengaged, the tension of the springs causes the setshaft to rotate inthe reverse direction, thereby moving back the knees to the desiredposition. At the same time that the attendant moves the lever 37 in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 2 he also draws it toward him or moves itin the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. This movement rocks the shaftin its bearings and draws the brake-strap 35 tightly around the drum l6,and thus regulates the speed at which the set-shaft revolves.

As soon as the knees have been receded to the desired point, the lever37 is released, allowing the spring 43 to reverse the movement of theshaft 31 and release the brake, and allowing the spring 9 to move thegear 15 into engrgement with the gear 13 on the countershaft: The springon the set-shaft that bears against the gear 15 tends to hold this gearin mesh with the gear 13. I- may also provide a coiled spring on theshaft 31, that tends to slide back the shaft as soon as the lever isreleased. In order to positively hold these gears in engagement witheach other, I prefer to provide a suitable latch in connection with theshaft 31 and prevent endwise movement thereof. The device that I preferto use for this purpose is shown in Figs. 2 and 7. An arm, 71, issecured to the shaft 31 and moves therewith. .It is provided withastop-lug, 73, at its end. A similar lug, 75, is provided upon astationary arm or hearing on the frame of the machine. When the shaft 31is in its normal position, the faces of the lugs encounter each otherand prevent endwise movement of the shaft, and the gear 15 is held inmesh with the gear 13. \Vhen by the operation of the lever '37 the shaftis rocked, the lug 73 is carried out of contact with the lug 75, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and the shaft 31 is free to moveendwise by a further operation of. the lever 37, as described.

- It is often desirable to move the knees independently of each other onthe head-blocks on account of the unevenness or taper in the logs. Forthis purpose I provide means by which either knee maybe given a limitedmovement, while the position of the setshaft is not changed. In Fig. 4 Ihave shown a device which may be used to secure this adjustment. Thepinion 49 on the set-shaft meshes with a sliding rack-bar, 51, in theknee. Lugs 53 project from the rack-bar.

A lever, 59, is pivoted on the knee and has a depending arm, 57, thatextends between the lugs on the rack-bar, as shown in Fig. 5, or ispivoted to a block, 55, that fits between the lugs 53, and is free toslide vertically as the rack-bar is moved back and forth. (See Fig. 6.)Suitable locking means may be provided for the lever 59. I have shown aspring-latch, 61, on the lever that engages a notched quad rant or are,63, that is secured to the knee. By moving the lever 59 the knee may bead vanced or receded independently of the move ment of the set-shaft. f

I am aware that heretofore a device has been employed for movingtheknees of saw-mill setworks, consisting of abar that is moved by theset-shaft and has on its upper surface a rack that is engaged by acurved rack on a lever pivoted in the knee. There are objections to thisdevice which. I seek to overcome by the construction that I employ. Forinstance, the rack becomes filled with dirt and dust in the' portionthat is free from the teeth on the lever, and hence as the lever isturned this dirt comes between the teeth on the lever and the rack andinterferes with the working thereof, while with my device the end of thelever or the'slid ing block prevents the dust from getting below it inthe space between the lugs 53, and if any dust gets between the lugsabove the block or end of the lever it willbe pushed out as the levermoves upward. Moreover, my deviceis much stronger and less expensivethan the other, and with it there is also less liability of lost motion.

I prefer to provide the are 63 with oblong projection or lug, 64, on thearc. Nuts 69 are provided on this stud, so that by loosening the bolts65 and adjusting these nuts the arc may be moved in either direction,and thereby a slight adjustment of the knee may be effected in eitherdirection.

I am aware that it is old to provide a sawmill set-works with a ratchetmechanism for moving the knees in one direction and reacting-springs formoving them in the other. In all the devices heretofore used withwhich Iam familiar it is necessary to trip the pawls and permit theratchet-wheel to revolve in a reverse direction while theknces are beingretracted. In my device it is never necessary to trip the pawls orreverse the movement of the ratchet-wheel.

Another feature of my construction that is especially advantageous isthe combined unclutching and brake mechanism by which the attendant maydisengage the set-shaft from the'counter shaft and regulate the reversemovement of the set-shaft.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a saw-mill set-works,with the set-shaft and reversing-springs, of a counter-shaft, gearingbetween said countershaft and set-shaft, a ratchet mechanism on saidcounter-shaft, and means for disconnecting said counter-shaft andset-shaft, whereby when the shafts are disconnected the set-shaft may bereversed by the springs without reversing the ratchet-wheel.

2. The combination, in a saw-mill set-works, of the set-shaft, thereversing-springs thereon, the counter-shaft, the ratchet mechanism onsaid counter-shaft, gearing between said counter-shaft and set-shaft,and means for disconnecting said gearing,whereby when said gearing isdisconnected the set-shaft may be reversed by the springs withoutreversing the counter-shaft and ratchet-Wheel.

3. The combination, in asaw-mill set-works, with the set-shaft andreacting-springs, of the counter-shaft, gearing between saidcountershaft and set-shaft, means for disconnecting said gearing, and abrake mechanism adapted to regulate the reverse movement of saidsetshait, for the purpose set forth.

4. In asaw-mill set-works, the combination of the set-shaft, mechanismfor moving the set-shaft in onedirection, mechanism for connecting anddisconnecting the set-shaft and ratchet mechanism, reacting-springs forreversing the movement of the set-shaft, and a brake mechanism engagingthe set-shaft and regulating its reverse movement, for the purpose setforth.

5. In a saw-mill set-works and in combination with the set-shaft, itsreacting-spring,

and the counter-shaft, thesliding gear mounted on'and turning with theset-shaft, and a friction-brake applied to said gear, for the purposeset forth.

6. In asaw-mill set-Works, the combination, with the set shaft and thereacting-springs thereon, of the counter-shaft having the ratchetmechanism and the gear 13, the sliding gear 15 on the set-shaft, thedrum 16, secured to said gear, the sliding shaft 31, the lever 37, andthe strap 35, secured to said shaft and passing around said drum,substantially as described. 7. The combination, in asaw-millset-works,with the set-shaft having the sliding gear .15, drum 16, and the spring9, of the sliding rockshaft 31, the lever 37, mounted on a stud, 39, thespring 43 on said stud, and the strap 35, secured to said rock-shaft andpassing around said drum 16, all substantially as described.

8 The combination, with the knee 5 and the adjustinglever, of the curvedare 63, having slots in its ends, studs passing through said slots andsecuring said arcto the knee, the lug 64 on the arc, the stud 67,secured to the knee and projecting through said lug, and the nuts 69 onsaidstud on opposite sides of said lug, all substantially as described.-

9. The combination, with the sliding knee, the head-block, andset-shaft, of the sliding rack-bar meshing withapinion on theset-shaftand having the projecting lugs 53, the block 55, fitting between saidlugs, and the lever 59, pivoted to the knee, and the sliding block 55.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand this 12th day of May,1886.

WILLIAM F. PARISH.

In presence of- A. 0. PAUL, R. H. SANFORD.

